This color home movie was shot by an American sailor who served aboard the famed aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea (CVS 47) in WESTPAC, from January to July 1958.. At that time the ship joined the 7th Fleet in antisubmarine warfare exercises and traveled to Hawaii, Philippines, Okinawa, Singapore, Japan, and Hong Kong.  In this era, her anti-submarine air group typically consisted of one squadron with 20 twin-engined Grumman S2F Trackers ASW aircraft, a squadron of HSS-1 Seabat ASW helicopters and a detachment of Douglas AD-5W Skyraider airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft. (A detachment of four McDonnell F2H Banshee fighters was often assigned to protect the other aircraft.) In this particular film, the Skyraiders shown are from Marine squadron VMA 332, and were flown aboard, along with Marine H-19 helicopters and OE light observation planes, just before the ship reached the Philippines. Then, many of the ASW aircraft were unloaded at Subic Bay, and the carrier, along with many recently embarked Marines, sailed off for a 3 week exercise in the S. China Sea.

The film provides a unique look at the ship in this era.

Opening: Hawaii. Tourists and seamen in Pearl Harbor watch a hula dance (:00). An aircraft carrier at dock, probably USS Hornet (:43). The submarine USS Bashaw (SS/SSK/AGSS-241) slowly goes by (1:08). A sailor on a sidewalk in Honolulu as people walk by (1:20). U.S. sailors on deck of USS Philippine Sea  in front of gun turrets (1:27). Sailors stand on deck (2:10). Scenes in Pearl Harbor, including the grave of the USS Arizona prior to building of the memorial (2:33).  The USS Philippine Sea (3:06). The trees and shores of Hawaii as seen from the moving ship (3:44). Destroyer USS Renshaw (DD/DDE-499) on the move on choppy seas (4:05). U.S. planes at a base, possibly Kaneohe Naval Air Station, awaiting loading on the carrier (4:17). Plane flies in the sky at a high distance; A-1 Skyraider on Hornet   (4:56). A sailor walks close to the camera (5:59). Servicemen sit around (6:35). A Navy Seahorse helicopter takes off (6:43). Navy servicemen sit around, some sunbathe (7:16). Planes are now loaded on Hornet (7:45). Navy tug Chahao (YTB-496), probably at Subic Bay. Military trucks, amphibious vehicles and soldiers or Marines on the move (9:03). Refueling at sea (9:28) with USS Ashtabula (AO-51). Flying dumptruck takes off as a serviceman takes photos (10:09). Planes for ready for takeoff on USS Philippine Sea  (10:25). A second U.S. carrier is visible, smoke emanating from its stack (11:49). Sailor poses (12:25). A Seahorse helicopter comes in for a landing as planes stand by (12:31).  Planes take off from the carrier (14:00). A Seahorse helicopter comes in for a landing (14:44). Port of call, probably Guam but could be Subic Bay in the Philippines. (15:26). Driving past small houses (17:21). Junks in a harbor, possibly in Macau or Singapore (17:37). Pedal cabs on the streets (18:23). Locals sit around the streets (18:56). Looking out of the stern of a warship (19:27). Hong Kong. Locals visible in small  boats nearby (20:35). A car is being loaded off a boat (21:27). Sailors walk around; go down a long staircase (22:13). A giant display that sailors look at (22:52). A tall tower (23:49). Asian artifacts and statues at Hong Kong's Dragon Garden (24:01). Two servicemen stand in front of a pagoda (25:07). Hong Kong skyline in the fog (25:47). Native women carry goods across their shoulders (26:19). Numerous small boats in a harbor, probably Aberdeen (26:28). Sampan in the water (27:04). Servicemen and the locals (27:40). Junks in the harbor  (28:19). Beach with a few sunbathers (28:39). 

 

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com